Whiten Highlights Stephens County 2010-2011 School year

Stephens County School Superintendent Sherrie Whiten said that the 2010-2011 school year was an exceptional one for the county’s school system.
“By every measure, this was a great year for students, teachers and everyone on the Stephens County School System team,” she said. “I want to publicly commend our teachers, administrators, support staff and board of education for some remarkable accomplishments.”
Whiten said the job was remarkable considering a shortened school year and budgeting challenges, and that students reached new heights.
“Our classrooms are stronger than ever, and our students are exceeding past performance,” she said.
Whiten noted the following accomplishments:

• Graduation rates exceeding past performances.

• 8th graders scoring high on their 2011 writing assessment with 89 percent meeting or exceeding state standards — an 11 percent increase from 2010’s 78 percent.

• 5th graders outpacing state percentages on their 2011 writing assessment by 84 percent. a five point margin from the state’s 79 percent.

• Improvements in almost every area of the state’s 2011 Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT) including more than 98 percent of third and eighth graders passing the reading portion, 98 percent of sixth graders passing the English/Language Arts portion, math scores increasing for fifth and eighth graders and 98.6 percent of seventh graders passing the math CRCT, 91 percent of fourth graders passing the social studies CRCT.

• High school graduation test scores increasing from the previous year in English/Language Arts, Science and Social Studies.

“In every area, Stephens County students outperformed students throughout the state,” said Whiten.

The Toccoa Record